Method of and apparatus for combing and/or blending fibrous material



J. E. VIVIAN Sept. 11, 1956 METHOD OF AND APPARATUS FOR COMBING AND BLENDING FIBROUS MATERIAL Filed Sept. 16, 1953 a Q favezzzar wz'azz/ ZZZ cfaknsoraiff'z' United States Patent METHOD OF AND APPARATUS FOR COlVIBING AND/0R BLENDING FIBRQUS MATERIAL Johnson E. Vivian, Waitham, Mass.

Application September 16, 1953, Serial No. 380,434

11 Claims. (Cl. 19-66) This invention relates to textile manufacture and more especially to a novel method of an apparatus for combing and/or blending fibrous material.

In order to produce a satisfactory yarn of uniform size and composition and of maximum strength it is essential so to mix the fibers which are to be employed as to provide, asubstantially uniform blend to eliminate lumps or aggregations of fibre; and likewise to straighten the fibers and to get them into as nearly parallel relation as possible preliminary to spinning or twisting. Customarily, theprocedures and machinery used in bringing about this condition are slow, complicated and costly. During this treatment the fiberis usually exposed many times to contact with metallic parts, in consequence of which many fibers are injured or broken, While some fibers become firmly matted or intertwined, forming small lumps or pills, so that much waste results.

One object of the present invention is to speed up production in the preliminary treatment of fibrous material in preparation for spinning. A further object is to provide a novel method of preparing fibrous material whereby. the amount of waste produced is much less than isthe consequence of using prior procedures. 7 p

A further object is to provide a method of disposing textile fibers in substantially parallel relation to form a fleece or web, without mechanical injury to the fibers.

A further object is to provide, a method of combing fibers .wherein the fiber is suspended freely in a fluid medium while undergoing treatment.

.A further object is to provide a method of combing fibers wherein the fibers are suspended in a flowing stream of liquid while beingloosen ed and separated.

.A further object is toprovide novel apparatus whereby the above results may be obtained.

Other and further objects and advantages of the invention bepointed out in the following more detailed description and by reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein: n V V V V Fig. l is a diagrammatic plan view with parts broken away illustrating one type of apparatus useful in the practice of the invention, and p 1 p l Fig. 2 is a diagrammatic vertical sectionlsubs tantially on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1. V i

Referring to the drawings, the numeral 1 designates a flume or chute having a bottom wall 2, which rnay be horizontal, or which may incline more or less from its receiving end toward its delivery, end, for example, with a slope of 30. This chute or flume has the vertical side .walls .3 and 4 and a top wall 2a, the walls thus defining a fluid passage closed on all sides and, as here illustrated, of substantially rectangular transverse section. Desirably the height of this passagerbetween the bottom and top wall, may be of the order of /2", but this height may be varied in accordance with circumstances.

A series of rock shafts 5, 5a, etc., each extending transversely of the chute and with adjacent shafts of the Patented Sept. 11, 1955 ice journalled in stuffing boxes in the side walls 3 and 4.

A second series of rock shafts 6, 6a, etc., arranged similarly to the shafts 5, is likewise disposed close to the bottom wall of the chute, the shafts 6, 6a, etc., being located substantially midway between adjacentshaftsS, 5a, etc., of the first series. Theshafts 5, 5a, etc., of the first series project outwardly beyond one wall, for example, the wall 4 of the chute, the projecting end of each shaft being provided with a crank arm 7 (-Fig. 2). The several crank arms 7 are connected by suitable links 9 to a crank 13 (Fig. 1) on a horizontal power-driven shaft 11, extending parallel to the shafts 5 and 6 and outside of the chute, this shaft being turned constantly during the operation of the apparatus by any suitable drive means.

The shafts of the other series project beyond the other vertical wall 3 of the chute, each of these shafts 6, 6a, etc. having a crank arm 8, similar to the arms 7, the several crank arms 3 being connected by links 12 toa second crank 13 on the drive shaft 11, the crank 13 being arranged at 180 from the crank 10.

Each of the shafts 5, 5.9, s, 6a, etc., is provided with a series of radial comb teeth 14, the teeth carried by each respective shaft being parallel to each other. However, the teeth of adjacent shafts 5 and 6 are so disposed that when, for example, the teeth on the shaft 5 are parallel to the bottom wall 2 of the fiume, those on the shaft 6 are perpendicular to said bottom wall.

The drive connections are so arranged that each of the shafts 5, 6, etc., is rocked through an angle of and so that the teeth 14 move from a position perpendicular to the bottom 2 to a position in which they are parallel to the bottom 2 with their tips directed toward the delivery end of the fiume or chute, and since the cranks 10and 13 are apart adjacent shafts are turned simultaneously in opposite directions.

The receivingend 15 of the flume 'or chute communicates freely with the lower part of a head box 16 of sulficient height to provide a head of fluid sufiicient as to insure a velocity of flow through the chute of from one to three feet per second. The delivery end 15a (Fig. 2) of the chute is in free communication with the interior of a screen casing 17, within which there'is rotatably mounted a cylindrical screen 13. The opposite ends of the screen may be arranged to turn in bearings adjacent to the opposite heads 17a of the screen housing, with provision to prevent leakage between the ends of the screen and the inner surfaces of the heads. The screen 18 is of a mesh so fine as to prevent passage of fiber from its exterior to its interior. 7 7 shown) maybe provided for rotating the screen in the direction of the arrow A (Fig. 2).

A pipe 21 (Pig. 1) leads through one of the heads 17a 'of the screen housing from the interior of the screen to a pump 22fwhich is constantly driven so as to return the liquid from the interior of the screen through a pipe 23 to jspout 2 5. This discharge spout may be arranged to deliver the fiber. tohydraulic spinning means, suchfor ex ample, as is disclosed in the copending application :for Letters Patent, Serial No. 305,208,'file'd' on August 19, 1952, by Lawrence M. Keele r, nowPate ntNo. 2,698,972.

However, instead of the spray and delivery spout, other means may be provided for stripping the film of fibre from the screen. Thus, for example, the upper part of Any suitable means (not may be arranged to contact and pick up the fibre from the screen and to deliver it to any other desired point of use.

The fibre F to be treated may be dropped into the upper end of the head box 16 by means of a conveyor .26, to which it maybe delivered by any prior device,

such, for example, as a conventional opener, mixer, or the like. Usually, the liquid employed in the apparatus will be' water, and the liquid level L (Fig. 1) will be maintained at a constant height above the bottom of the chute 2, so as to insure substantially uniform-velocity of flow through the chute.

To insure good distribution of the fibre in the body of liquid, the fibre may be pre- 7 treated with or a chemical wetting agent of well known type may be added to the body of liquid in the head "box, and de sirably the head box should be of such transversedimension relatively to the capacity of the flume as to insure a substantially constant velocity of down flow in thehead box.

Merely by way of example of dimensions and other characteristics of apparatus which have been found suitable for the purpose, the following data is provided,

without any intent thereby to limit the invention to the particular dimensions or conditions thus set forth:

Carding fiume:

Operating conditions: 7

Water rate: velocity in flume1 to 3 .ft. per sec.

(approx) equivalent to 50 to 160 lb. per min.

Fiber (in small tufts as'from a blending feeder) Rate varied from 0.006 to 0.03 lb. fiber/min.

Fiber to water ratio: 0.004% to 0.01%

As suggested in the above example, it is desirable to arrange the teeth on the rock shafts so that those which first encounter the fibrous material flowing through the chute are spaced further apart than those near the delivery end of the chute.

As the fibrous material F suspended in the liquid in the head box 16 moves downwardly with the liquid and into the passage defined by the chute, the two series of combs are being rocked back and forth through an arc of 90. If when the teeth 14 of the first comb are perpendicular to the bottom 2 of the chute, a bunch or accumulation of fibers encounters these upstanding teeth, it will be delayed so that the fluid will flow past it and in so doing, will tend to loosen the accumulation of fibers by reason of the drag effect which the fluid exerts on each individual projecting end of fiber. However,- the first comb only remains in this position for a very short period of time so that very soon the aforesaid bunch or lump of fibers is released and permitted to move bodily along with the current. Before it has proceeded far, the next comb carried by the shaft 6 has swung upwardly and again catches the aggregation of fibers, which is again subjected to the loosening and drawing out action. This alternate delay and forward movement of the individual bunches of fiber, throughout the length of the chute, results in a gradual attrition of the lump or bunch'by the successive release of individual fibers, until by the time the delivery end 15a of the chute is reached the fibers have all been loosened and move as discrete elements in the flowing fluid. If the chute be extended 7 a substantial distance beyond the last of the combs, there is a strong tendency of the flowing liquid to cause the fibers to straighten and arrange themselves so that the majority of them are parallel. The liquid stream carrying the thus suspended fibers now enters the screen housing and since there is a flow of liquid radially in through the screen, the fibers are disposed upon the outer surface of the screen, in generally parallel relation while the liquid entering the interior of the cylinder is drawn out by the pump 22 and returned substantially free of fiber, to the head box. As above noted, the independent fibers which collectively form a film on the surface of the screen, wherein the fibers are predominantly parallel, is stripped ofl by a fluid jet and is washed out through the' spout 25L.

While one desirable form of apparatus has herein been described, by way of example, it is to be understood that the method herein disclosed may be carried out by other specific apparatus than that herein disclosed.

I claim:

1. That method of treating textile fiber which comprises as steps suspending the fiber in a smoothly flowing,

continuous stream of liquid filling a passage of uniform transverse dimensions, maintaining a pressure head such as to produce a rate of flow of the order of three feet per second and, while the fiberis moving with the flowing stream, loosening aggregations of fibre thereby to release individual fibers to'be carried along as discrete elements by the liquid.

2. That method 'of treating textile fiber which cominch which fills a passagehaving parallel upper and lower walls and vertical side walls and which is of uniform transverse dimensions and, while the fiber remains suspended in the stream, alternately obstructing and releasing aggregates of fiber carried by the stream at each of a plurality of points spaced along the length of the stream. a

3. That method of treating textile fiber which comprises as steps suspending the fiber in a smoothly flowing continuous stream of liquid which fills a passage of uniform transverse dimensions and which has a rate of flow of the order of three feet per second, the fiber to liquid ratio being approximately 0.004% to 0.01% and, while the fiber remains suspended in the flowing stream, subjecting the fiber to the action of combing devices located at spaced intervals along the length ofthe stream.

4. That method of treating textile fibers which com.- prises as steps suspending the fiber in a smoothly flowing continuous stream of liquid filling a smooth walled passage of uniform transverse dimensions, the velocity V of flow being approximately three feet per second thereby hydraulically to arrange the fibers in substantially parallel relation, and, while the fibers are moving with the stream, breaking up aggregations of fibers thereby to release individual fibers to the parallelizing action of the fluid.

5. That method of combing textile'fibers which comprises as steps, delivering the fibrous material into a smoothly flowing, continuous, substantially horizontal stream of liquid filling a passage which is substantially rectangular in shape in transverse section and which is of uniform transverse dimensions from end to' end, said passage having a floor which slopes down stream at an angle of approximately 30 to the horizontal, the. fibrous material so delivered into the stream being suspended nate combing elements first to move in the direction of flow of the stream and then in the reverse direction while intervening elements are being moved oppositely to the first-named elements, then permitting the resultant discrete fibers to fiow unobstructedly with the stream whereby the individual fibers are straightened out and disposed in substantially parallel relation by hydraulic action, and so separating the fluid from the fiber as to leave the fiber in the form of a film in which the majority of the fibers are substantially parallel.

6. Apparatus for use in treating textile fiber comprising means defining an elongate flurne, a plurality of rock shafts, each extending transversely of the fiume, the shafts being spaced longitudinally of the fiume, each shaft having a series of parallel comb teeth projecting therefrom, means for rocking alternate shafts simultaneously in opposed directions through an arc of approximately 90, means for delivering fiber-bearing fluid into one end of the r'iume, and means at the opposite end of the flume, for separating fluid from fiber.

7. Apparatus, according to claim 6, wherein the means for delivering fluid into one end of the flume comprises a head box wherein fiber bearing fiuid is maintained at a predetermined level, and means at the opposite end of the flume for removing the fiber from the fluid, comprising a fiber-collecting screen.

8. Apparatus for use in treating textile fiber, comprising means defining a shallow fiume, a plurality of rockable combs, each extending transversely of the flurne, the combs being spaced apart lengthwise of the flume and being rockable from a position in which their teeth are substantially perpendicular to the time bottom to a position in which their teeth are substantially parallel to the flume bottom and with their tips directed in the direction of fluid flow, means for simultaneously rocking the several combs so that alternate combs move in opposite directions, means for delivering fiber-bearing fluid at a predetermined substantially uniform head into the receiving end of the flume, a rotary screen at the opposite end of the flume on which the fiber is deposited, and means for removing liquid from the interior of the screen and returning it to the receiving end of the fiume.

9. Apparatus for use in treating textile fiber, comprising means defining an elongate fiume, a plurality of rockable combs, each extending transversely of the fiume, the combs being spaced apart longitudinally of the flume, each of the combs comprising a rock shaft whose axis is close to the bottom of the flume, each shaft having a crank at one end, a power-driven hori- Zontal rotary shaft located outside of the fiume and which has two cranks located 180 apart, means for transmitting motion from one of said latter cranks to the cranks on the ends of alternate comb shafts, and means for transmitting motion from the other of the cranks on the power driven shaft to the cranks on the ends of the shafts of intervening combs.

10. Apparatus for use in combing textile fiber comprising means defining a flume, relatively wide and shallow, a head box communicating with the upper end of the flume, a series of combs, each comb extending transversely of the flume and each comb comprising a shaft having teeth projecting therefrom, each comb shaft being disposed close to the bottom of the flume, the comb teeth being of a length approximating the depth of the fiume, each comb shaft being rockable through an arc of from a position in which its teeth are perpendicular to the flume bottom to a position in which its teeth point down stream, means for rocking alternate shafts simultaneously in opposite directions, a screen housing at the lower end of the flume, a rotary screen in the housing, means for removing fiber from the screen, and means for returning the liquid from the interior of the screen to the head box.

11. Apparatus according to claim 10 wherein the teeth of combs nearer to the entrance end of the flurne are spaced apart from each other further than those of combs located nearer to the delivery end of the fiume.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 612,334 Gunerman et a1. Oct. 11, 1898 1,042,394 Cheesman Oct. 29, 1912 1,450,325 Magny Apr. 3, 1923 1,460,519 Wadsworth July 3, 1923 1,627,037 Kampf et a1. May 3, 1927 1,672,527 Heintz June 5, 1928 1,733,256 Gardner Oct. 29, 1929 1,799,685 Grninder Apr. 7, 1931 2,418,126 Spalding et al.- Apr. 1, 1947 

